“We can talk about it when you’re older,” he tells her and she only looks more confused.
“Sorry,” Rhett laughs to me, and I shake my head with a smile.
Then everyone’s eyes level on mom, who has yet to speak.
She lets out a shaky breath. “I always knew you two would make such beautiful lives for yourselves.” She shakes her head and pokes at the corner of her eyes to erase a tear. “I am so, so happy for you. Both of you.”
“Mom.” Lauren’s voice is soft.
“And Winnie!” She spins and faces Winnie. “What do you think?”
“It will be practice until I get my own baby sister. That’s what Aunt Laurey says.”
“Now.” Tanner claps his hands against his knees before I can grill Lauren. “Who’s hungry? I went to the grocery store and got the stuff to make homemade fettuccine.”
“Oh, let me give you a hand.” Paul stands. “I’m quite the expert on homemade pasta.”
“Perfect. Come on Rhett.” Tanner nods while Paul pats his back. Winnie heads in after her three favorite men.
“So?” Mom narrows her eyes on me the moment they go into the house.
“So what?” I can taste the defensiveness in my words even though I know there’s no getting around this.
“So,Tannerisstill around.”
“Mom. He lives hereandhe’s Rhett’s best friend. Of course he’s still around.”
“I caught them making out in the kitchen at the Fourth of July party.” Lauren announces and then claps a hand over her mouth.
“Lauren!” I half yell. “It— I was just—” I try to be angry at Lauren, but I can’t. If she can tell our mom she’s pregnant, then I can admit I casually kissed a guy. Casually would be the only lie.
Mom is belly laughing, and for a moment I see a flash of Winnie in the way she laughs. Head back and bright pink cheeks. “I was wondering how long it was going to take you to come clean. Jack has been giving me and Paul updates for weeks on the two of you.”
“I hate all of you,” I lie and sit back in my chair, shaking my head, not bothering to hide my smile.
31
“We want to see where you’re staying before we leave,” Mom tells me as we are saying goodbye for the night. Lauren is ready to go to bed, Rhett wants to get some late-night writing in, and Winnie is in a losing battle with sleep on Tanner’s lap.
“It’s okay, it isn’t much,” I say, but Paul waves me off.
“Oh, come on. It could be a shoe box, and we would still be proud of you.”
From him, I know that’s true. But from Mom? I’m not so sure.
“I appreciate that, but I might just sleep on the couch here. I’ve had a couple beers anyway.” I shrug but Tanner reaches into my bag and pulls out my keys while balancing Winnie on his hip.
“I’m happy to drive you and Win over.” He turns to my parents. “Meet you guys there?”
“Great!” Mom smiles and shuffles Paul into the car before I can argue.
I spin on Tanner the moment he closes the van door after getting Winnie in her seat. “What in the world?”
“What?” He pretends to act shocked as he guides me over to the passenger seat.
“I almost had an excuse out of this!”
“No, you didn’t. We both know they weren’t buying it. Hop in.”
